Norman Scott / Wild Fire / Obediah / Smoke, Heat, and Fire

Cleveland, 1970-1978

Norman Scott was a lead singer and guitarist for a few Cleveland bands, and recorded two 45s as a solo artist. 

He did some musical theatre in the late 1960s. There's no listings in the newspapers for him performing locally.

He recorded his first 45 for Way Out in 1973. The A side "Baby Don't Go" was a new recording of the Occasions song that was a local hit in 1966, while the B side is an original by Scott and Michael Chavers. We couldn't find anything about Chavers, he seemed to work with Norman on both 45s. The Way Out record was the last 45 using the label name and has two pressings with the same master, one on the spiral label and one on the grey label.

Norman's second 45 was released in 1974 on Chi records, which seems to have been run by Chavers. The A side was an original, and the B side a cover of the huge hit by Skylark (and also a hit by New Birth).

In 1975 Norman joined with Steve Logan (bass) and Ronnie Frisco (drums) to form Wildfire. The band was put together and led by Lou Ragland. The group played out often through 1975-6, appearing at many local clubs, some times with Lou, and alternating sets. They recorded a 45 for Lou's SMH label in 1975, a raw funky workout "Tend To Your Business" extended across two sides  that was fairly common for funk records at the time. The record was recorded at Suma with Ken Hamann producing. Wildfire lasted a year or so.

Norman was back with a new band, Obediah, in 1977. The band included Logan and keyboard player David Rasberry.

A 1977 newspaper bit on Obediah mentions Norman in a band called Smoke, Heat, and Fire. There's no other mention we could find about a band by that name. It's possible that name was a variation on Wildfire.

Discography:
Baby Don't Go / Ain't That A Heartache - Way Out 01, 1973
Hurry Sundown / Wildflower - Chi 002, 1974
Tend To Your Business Part 1 / Tend To Your Business Part 2 - SMH